Taxidermal ear liner



July 18, 1961 J. P. JONAS, JR

TAXIDERMAL EAR LINER Filed June 15, 1959 R, m m w.

Joseph P Jonas, Jr. 7

ATTORNEY Uniteri States Patent 2,992,494 TAXEDERMAL EAR LINER Joseph P. Jonas, In, Denver, Colo., assignor to Jonas Bros, Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed June 15, 1959, Ser. No. 820,308 9 Claims. (CI. 35-20) This invention relates to the art and practice of taxidermy as particularly exemplified in the life-simulating mounting of mammal heads, and more especially to the techniques applicable for effective support and display of the ear components of such heads, and has an object to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner of superior practicality and enhanced utility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner adapted for volume production at low unit cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner readily and variously adaptable from an initial generic embodiment to diverse specific use applications.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner selectively conformable to and for coaction with the ear components of an extensive range of mammal species and individual mammal specimens.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner conveniently accommodative of diverse positional arrangements of the ear components thereby supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner that is permanent, secure, durable, and damage-resistant in practical use installations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved taxidermal ear liner employable with facility to advantageously expedite and simplify the mounting operations to which it is applicable and to enlarge the scope of available ear-mounting effects.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which-- FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a typical taxidermal ear liner exemplifying the principles of the invention as organized ready for practical use.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the liner according to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section longitudinally through the liner according to the preceding views taken on a plane substantially perpendicular to that of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section through the liner according to the preceding views taken substantially on the indicated line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section similar to FIGURE 4 taken substantially on the indicated line 5-5 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a conventionalized, somewhat diagrammatic section longitudinally through the liner according to the preceding views as associated with an ear component in one position of practical use.

A great many, if not all, of the quadruped mammals whereof specimens come to the taxidermist to be mounted ice for display of at least the head are alike characterized by generally-similar auricles, or external ears, herein referred to as ear components, which are susceptible of life-simulating diverse dispositions and arrangements very much affecting the merit of the ultimate mount. Such car components, in an extensive variation of size and. specific conformation, consist of an epidermal envelope or cover integral with the skull portion of the pelt enclosing a cartilaginous stiffener to therewith define a concavo-convex, terminally rounded or pointed, outer portion radially converging and merging into a generally-tubular, longitudinally-intersected base portion adjacent the skull, the said ear components of a given specimen being substantially identical in a reversed, or complementary, aspect appropriate to correspondingly direct the concavities thereof in their attachment to opposite sides of the head. Preliminary to mounting of the specimen, the cartilaginous stiffeners are removed from the ear components, and the pelt material of the so-evacuated envelopes is cleaned, tanned, and appropriately conditioned for permanent mounting as an integral feature of the skin wherewith they are associated in surrounding relation with the natural ear openings therethrough. At an opportune stage of the actual pelt-mounting operations, the ear component envelopes are extended and adjustably stiffened by means of suitable liners conformably engageable therein and therewith adaptable to diverse display attitudes of the so reinforced components, and it is to the provision of a novel and improved such liner characterized by enhanced utility and practical advantage that the instant invention is directed.

The ear components of a given specimen being, as above noted, approximately identical in a complementary, reversed relationship, it is to be understood that the ear liners exemplifying the principles of the invention are correspondingly produced and made available as complementary, reversed units identical save for their consequent adaptation to use in and with the oppositelydisposed ear component envelopes of a particular specimen, in view of which the representations of the drawing and the following detailed description thereof are restricted to but that one of typical such liners designed to coact with an ear component carried at the left side of a specimen head.

Significant advantages of theear liner of the invention derive from the material utilized for its production. As is well known to those experienced in the related field, there are commonly available synthetic resins and so called plastics of thermoplastic type which are amenable to economical processing for the production of finished units that are stiflly-resilient, accommodative of stitching, piercing, and trimming, pliable for selective shaping when moderately and temporarily warmed, adhesively tractable, and so highly resistant to all normal destructive and deteriorating influences as to justify their qualification as permanent. The properties just noted being precisely those ideally desired in a taxidermal ear liner, they are availed of with consequent practical benefit through ingenious adaptation of suitable synthetic resin and plastic materials to the composition of liner units in form and organizations as illustrated and hereinafter specified.

Molded, fabricated, or shaped in any expedient manner and by any feasible means from thermo-plastic material as an integral, homogeneous unit having the properties above set forth, the ear liner of the invention is a conventionalized approximation of the natural cartilaginous stitfeners discarded prior to mounting susceptible of adaptation to function with and for display positioning of the ear component envelopes of a wide range of mammal specimens. Desirably produced in a size appropriate for coaction with the ear component envelopes of the larger mammals and amenable, by virtue of the nature of its constituent material, to trimming for coaction with the corresponding features of smaller specimens, the unique ear liner of the invention is an elongated, shelllike body indicated generally by the numeral distinguished by its particular conformation and correlation of conjoint zones. For facility of detailed description, the body 10 may be viewed as comprised from an outer end, or tip, portion 11 smoothly and conformably merging with an intermediate portion 12 which in turn merges smoothly and conformably with a base portion 13. Giving eifect to the principles of the invention, the tip portion 11 of the body 10 is generally lanceolate in plan, concavoconvex in transverse section, moderately convexo-concave in longitudinal section, defined between margins 14 and l15 asymmetrically and divergently spiraling from the aeuminate apex 16 of the tip, and is of slightly-tapered material thickness appropriate to provide considerable pliancy in the free end area of the tip and a decreasing degree of pliancy inwardly of the tip length. From their maximum divergent separation adjacent the inner end of the tip 11, the margins 14 and 15 spirally and convergently extend as margins 14 and 15' definitive of lobes 17 and 18, respectively, closely opposed to substantially circurnferentially complete, and to overlie the consequently tubular interior of, the slightly bulbous intermediate portion 12 smoothly integral with the inner end of the tip 11 and extending thence in a gradually-increased thickness of constituent material promotive of relatively-enhanced unit stiffness in said portion 12. In a length approximating that of the tip 11, the intermediate portion 12 merges in a continuing slight increase of material thickness with the base portion 13 to constitute the latter as an asymmetrically-bulbous, expanded unit terminal including a conveXo-concave web 19 partially closing over and obstructing the passage interiorly of the intermediate portion 12 at an outwardly-convergent inclination to the axis thereof. The margins 14' and 15' defining the lobes 17 and 18 are spirally reversed and continued beyond the latter as margins 14" and 15", respectively, delimiting the base portion 13 in smooth conjunction across the edge of the web 19 to embrace and thereby establish a gap of considerable relative area opening laterally and outwardly of the unit subjacent the lobes 17 and 18 through a plane common to said margins at an inclination to the axis of the passage through the intermediate portion 12 and substantially perpendicular to the general disposition of the web 19.

Obviously, the organization of the ear liner complementary to that shown and described is but an eversion of the assembly hereinabove particularized.

Constituted as set forth, the novel ear liner is a practical taxidermal facility of high utility and wide adaptability. Because of the nature of the constituent material, the unit margins 14, 14, 14", 15, 15 and 15" may be trimmed and shaped with facility to vary the size and outline of the unit for coaction with ear component envelopes of specimens throughout an extensive range of species, sizes, and individual idiosyncrasy, and to vary the inclination and attitude of the gap in the base portion 13 for marginal coaction with mounting forms of diverse contours in desired positional relations therewith. With or without recourse to the pliancy-promoting infiuence of heat, the intermediate portion 12 of the liner may he radially contracted or expanded with obvious size and aspect modifications appropriate to a given mount, and with recourse to the influence of heat major and permanent alterations in the shape and conformation correlations of the original unit may be made to satisfy almost any conceivable exigency of its practical use.

With a supply of the preformed ear liners of the invcntion at hand, the work of a taxidermist in connection with the ear components of a mount is very much facilitated. The pelt being ready to mount, one of the liner units, suitably sized and shaped, is inserted between the inner and outer skin layers of the ear component 20, FIG- URE 6, and therein secured, by stitching, or otherwise, as may be desired. The surface of a skull-simulating form 21 is coated with adhesive 22, as is conventional practice, the pelt area 23 surrounding the ear component is fitted, smoothed, and adjusted on the form for attachment thereto by means of the adhesive 22, and the lined ear component is adjusted to its desired position with the margins of the opening through the liner base portion 13 engaging the form and the adhesive overlay thereon. All manipulations and adjustments being completed, a plug 24 of initially-plastic, air-setting clay, or the equivalent, is worked and compacted within and to fill the passage traversing the base of the lined ear component and to co action with the adhesive 22 exposed therein to effect reliably-secure attachment of the ear component in the desired display relation with the mount.

In addition to its merit in facilitating the work of the taxidermist, the liner unit of the invention evidences unique superiority in its permanent use relation. The pliancy inherent in the material utilized for the unit does not significantly alter with time and is ever present to resiliently minimize deformation of or dam-age to the mounted ear components in reaction to exposure to accidental collisions, while other properties of such material resist any and all deteriorating influences to which the mount is normally subject, maintain the components extended thereby in their positions of original adjustment, and preserve the integrity of the original assembly.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. A taxidermal ear liner comprising an elongated shell-like unit of dense, stifiiy-pliant, homogeneous material amenable to piercing, trimming, and shaping formed with a Iongitudinally-interrupted, generally-tubular intermediate portion integrally uniting a lanceolate tip portion and a laterally-apertured, asymmetrically-bulbous base portion in substantial longitudinal coalignment.

2. A taxidermal ear liner comprising an elongated shell-like unit of dense, stifily-pliant, homogeneous, thermo-plastic material amenable to piercing, trimming, and shaping formed with a longitudinally-interrupted, generally-tubular intermediate portion integrally uniting in substantial longitudinal coalignment a transversely concavo-convex, lanceolate tip portion and an asymmetrically-bulbous base portion adapted to open laterally and angularly of the unit through an aperture connecting with and as an enlarged extension of the longitudinal interruption of said intermediate portion.

3. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the unit material is moderately and preferably uniformly tapered from a maximum at the base portion end and to a minimum at the tip portion end of the unit, whereby to correspondingly graduate the pliant properties of the unit.

4. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the unit tip and base portions correspondingly and oppositely extend as continuations from the arcuate zone of the intermediate portion opposed to the longitudinal interruption thereof.

5. The organization according to claim 2, wherein said tip portion is longitudinally convexo-concave, Whereby to dispose the free end of said tip portion at an outward divergence relative to the unit length.

6. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the margins of said tip portion, intermediate portion longitudinal interruption, and base portion aperture are smoothly and curvilinearly continuous.

7. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the interruption longitudinally of the intermediate portion is established between opposed, convex lobes protruding circumferentially of said portion and opposed margins of said lobes correspondingly spirally diverge from the juxtaposed arcs of the lobes in both directions longitudinally of the intermediate portion.

8. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the bulbous base portion includes a reversely convexo-concave web remotely partially closing over and obstructing the passage interiorly of the intermediate portion at an outwardly-convergent inclination to the axis thereof.

5 sage through the intermediate portion from the longitudinally-interrupted zone of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Naulty Mar. 30, 1937 Hantman Jan. 22, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Hornaday, Wm. T. (pub. by Scribner, N.Y., 1891):

QL/63/H82, pages 160-162, 167 only.

Moyer, John W. (Ronald Press, N.Y., 1953): QL/ 63/ M67, pages 95, 96 and 100 only. 

